Synoptek LLC, an information technology consulting and services provider based in Irvine, is racing to help build emergency hospitals for coronavirus patients.
Chief Executive Tim Britt said the work is an “incredible accomplishment” given how quickly the company had to get mobilized.
“Hopefully they don’t need all these facilities,” Britt told the Business Journal on April 16 from his home, where he has been working. He said the company had been involved for only about 21 days then.
50% On-Site
“Right now, our services are probably delivered 50% remote and 50% on-site” and the work is done under paid contract, according to the CEO.
His company has been busy installing the tech infrastructure at the temporary hospital facilities, and then will stay involved for support and management.
Synoptek’s work includes systems to check patients in, taking medical data from the patient, medical patient checks and organizing medical records, as well as running the telephone systems.
Salas O’Brien Partnership
Synoptek has partnered with several government contractors, such as engineering firm Salas O’Brien of Santa Ana, to help build and manage the network infrastructure.
The Army Corps of Engineers is currently overhauling unused hotels, dormitories, convention centers and large open spaces to build hundreds of temporary hospitals designed to cope with the thousands of new coronavirus cases being diagnosed daily.
Synoptek said the plan is to help get four Army Corps transitional hospitals fully operational in Illinois by the end of this month. Britt cautioned that officials frequently change their plans based on demand.
Emergency Loans
Along with the Illinois sites, Synoptek continues to engage contractors across the country, in states including Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Tennessee and Wisconsin to design, build, and support additional alternate care facilities, the company said in mid-April.
Synoptek’s corporate offerings combine IT outsourcing, business systems, analytics, cloud computing and cybersecurity services. The company has not laid off anyone due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The company works in partnership with clients of all sizes—from mid-market to Fortune 100.
Business Impact
Britt said his company’s business could fall as much as 20% on a quarterly basis through the end of the year compared with the same periods of 2019 due to the pandemic.
“Our managed service business has been steady. We’ve had customers that are completely closing down, or are 70% closed down. We’re working with them to scale back their services and suspend services while they get organized,” he said, adding that managed services accounts for about 70% of the company’s work.
“Our new larger projects involving consulting, design and implementation are getting postponed or suspended by customers as customers dial back discretionary investments in the face of uncertainty,” according to Britt.
He said the company has applied for an emergency government loan earmarked for companies hit by the pandemic and thinks he’ll “get some funding on that front.”
